Barge
Trips
• Sunset booze cruise
• Bird watching
• Braai on board
Enjoy a relaxing barge trip on the scenic Umlalazi River with
knowledgeable host Bob Williamson
072
586 6936
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Beyond the Big 5
• Guides
• Checklists
• Maps
• Info
Tel: 035 753 5644
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Hippo
Printing & Design
•
Internet Cafe
• Printing
• Gifts
Mon-Fri: 07h00-16h30
Sat: 08h00-12h00
Station Rd, Mtunzini
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AMATIKULU
Eco-Ventures
For hire:
• Canoes
• Pontoons
• Fishing Rods
• Guides
Tel: 032 453 0174
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The
PRAWN SHACK
A
unique beach feast
at Amatikulu lagoon
Tel: 084 737
6493
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ADAMS'
OUTPOST
at the Museum
Village
• Tea
Garden
• Restaurant
• Private Functions
• Tour Groups
•
School Groups
Contact:
Terry MacDonald
Tel:
035-474-1787
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Mtunzini Country Club
•
9-Hole Golf Course
• Tennis
• Squash
• Bar
Visitors
welcome
Contact
Club
Secretary:
Tel: 035 340 1779
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24 Hely Hutchinson Rd
M TUNZINI
Exciting
new listings!
Contact:
Cheryl Southgate
Tel: 035 340 2931
Cell: 082 770 7423
Fax:088 035 340 2931
email:
cheryl
@southgateproperties.co.za
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14
Hely Hutchinson Rd
MTUNZINI
Contact:
Marilyn Greeff
Tel: 035 340 1983
Cell: 083 631 1764
Fax: 035 340 2441
email: realty@mtunzini.co.za
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THE FAT CAT GRILL
Mon-Fri (excl Pub holidays)
18hoo-20h30
It will specialise in STEAKS, SEAFOODS, PASTAS & BURGERS
THE FAT CAT
COFFEE SHOP
Mon-Fri
08h00-18h00
Sat, Sun and Pub holidays08h00-14h30
Station Road
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Birding
Zulu Culture
Game viewing
Customised
tours &
hidden gems with
registered tour guide
Des Shuttleworth
035 474 1855
072 711 4413
deseshowe@mweb.co.za
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"We
cover the widest range of
off-the-beaten-track tours
in Zululand"
- Graham Chennels
The
George Hotel,
Main St, Eshowe
035
474 4919
info@eshowe.com
www.eshowe.com
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NOBA
Restaurant & Bar
cnr
of Kangela and
M. Buthelezi Rds
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Urban Zulu Cuisine
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Open 7 days a week
•
From Lunch till Late
Tel:
072 130 1617
072 621 8346
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At Eshowe Mall
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Coffee
Shop
Light
meals
Catering
035
474 5660
084 596 4609
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Computer
Service Training
Yvonne Lindiwe Mpanza
Office 1,
Inkosi Ndwandwe St
King Dinuzulu, Eshowe
035 474 8013
035 474 1694
082 968 9508
Hands-on
practical &
Interactive programmes
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The
Siyaya Coastal Park
- about 42kms of unspoilt coastline
- stretches from the mouth of the
Umlalazi river to the southern boundary
of the Amatikulu Nature Reserve.
It includes two nature reserves as
well as pristine coastal dune forest,
mangrove forests, swamp forest, grassland
and lala palm bushveld.
The Umlalazi Nature Reserve
(1 028 hectares) and Amatikulu
Nature Reserve (1 700 hectares)
both offer a network of trails where
visitors can view a wide range of
creatures - great and small - from
the fascinating fiddler crabs and
mudskippers which inhabit the mangrove
swamp to herds of zebra and giraffes
grazing on grasslands overlooking
the ocean.
Amatikulu Nature Reserve
- with 17kms of coastline - also offers
an observation tower for whale-spotting.
This is one of only three land-based
observation platforms on the KwaZulu
Natal coast and the view is one of
the finest on the KwaZulu Natal coastline.
Adjoining the Park are the excellent
Twinstreams Environmental
Education Centre - which
has been making schoolchildren more
aware of nature for the past 50 years
- and The Prawn Shack,
one of the more unusual restaurants
in the area where visitors can spend
a leisurely afternoon enjoying a variety
of seafood dishes. |
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A leisurely barge trip
up the Umlalazi River is the ideal
vantage point for bird watching or
just enjoying the magnificent scenery.
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Barge trips can be organised through
barge owner Bob Williamson on
072 586 6936. |
Siyaya
Coastal Park has more than 40kms
of pristine coastline. |
Umlalazi
River winds it way through mangrove
and coastal dune forests on
its way to the sea.
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Umlalazi
Nature Reserve is the gem of the Zululand
coast and offers a safe and unspoilt
environment for viewing a surprising
variety of wildlife.
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The
rare Mangrove Kingfisher can be seen
during the winter months. |
Mtunzini
has the largest concentration of Woolly
Knecked Storks in the country. |
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There
is a range of hiking trails in and
around the Umlalazi Nature Reserve.
A short trail of about 15 minutes
through one of the best examples
of Mangrove Forest
to be seen in South Africa, starts
at the parking area at the lagoon
and takes the visitor past John
Dunn's Pool.
This forest is inhabited by a number
of strange creatures of which the
fiddler crabs are perhaps the best
known.
Male fiddler crabs have an enlarged
claw, which is used both for displaying
to attract females as well as in
combat with other males.
During mating season the magrove
forest is alive with gaiety as the
little males beckon to females with
their enlarged claws. Also worth
looking out for is the mudskipper
- a little amphibious fish - which
can often be seen skittering over
the mud surface searching for insects
and small crustaceans to eat.
In the winter months this is the
place to spot the Mangrove Kingfisher.
Energetic hikers can continue on
the trail which connects with the
road to the mudflats which is often
an excellent birding area.
The circular Siyaya Coastal
Dune Forest Trail starts
at the parking area for south beach
and follows the coastal forest adjacent
to the Siyaya stream. Bushbuck,
red, grey and blue duiker can be
seen on this trail.
The trail to the Umlalazi
River mouth is about 8kms
long but takes one along the beautiful
winding river until it enters the
ocean at Port Durnford.
The trail starts on the footpath
linking north beach with the parking
area at the lagoon.
If hikers are returning along the
beach they are advised to first
check out the beach so they can
recognise where to exit on their
return.
Just outside the Reserve is the
Raphia Palm Forest which
can easily be included in one of
the trails through the Reserve.
There is a boardwalk through the
swamp forest which provides easy
access to the heart of the colony
of palms where the prime specimens
create an awesome cathedral-like
effect.
The Palmnut vulture is often seen
nesting near the top of the raphia
palms.
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Umlalazi Nature Reserve is open daily:
05h00 - 22h00
An entrance fee to the Umlalazi Nature
Reserve is payable but visitors staying
outside the Reserve can pay once and
receive a temporary entrance card. |
 
The
lagoon at the Umlalazi Nature Reserve
offers hours of relaxation and enjoyment
with an abundance of activities
for all ages.
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TWINSTREAMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
CENTRE |
Tucked
into the coastal forest south
of Umlalazi Nature Reserve is
the Twinstreams
Environmental Education Centre
which has been hosting school
groups for more than 50 years.
Started by local conservationist,
Dr Ian Garland, and now managed
by the Wildlife and Environment
Society of South Africa (WESSA),
the Centre - which is set in a
beautiful rehabilitated forest
- is the ideal location to introduce
young people to the importance
of conservation. It has easy access
to a range of natural habitats
as well as fun activities such
as canoeing, team-building and
swimming in the sea.
The Centre has accommodation
for 60 people.
Contact: 035 340 2511
Map
of hiking trails at Twinstreams. |
Young
people have fun while learning
about the environment at Twinstreams. |
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This
small Reserve is situated at the confluence
of the Amatikulu and Nyoni rivers
- the latter running parallel to the
coast for about 8kms before entering
the lagoon.
The Reserve, which served as a leper
colony until the 1970's, occupies
a narrow strip along the coast reaching
a maximum width of 3kms and a length
of about 17kms.
Infrastructure within the Reserve
consists of two roads, a 4x4 trail,
a few hiking trails as well as accommodation
in a tented camp.
Despite its size, the Reserve contains
many different habitats and has an
impressive checklist of over 300 birds
- including 25 species of raptor.
The Reserve is stocked with some game
including giraffe, kudu, zebra, impala,
waterbuck and bushbuck.
Humpback whales are often seen between
September and November from the observation
tower built on one of the high dunes
overlooking a magnificent stretch
of unspoilt coastline.
Recently the Reserve was used as a
film location for the Russian version
of the popular reality TV show Survivor.
The Beach and
River Trails are just over
1km long and take visitors through
coastal and riverine habitats.
Visitors wishing to go to the beach
should hire canoes from the reception
office as crocodiles do occur in the
Nyoni river.
The Whale Trail is
highly recommended as the view from
the observation tower is probably
the best panoramic view to be enjoyed
on the entire Zululand coast.
The iLala Trail is
long (a round trip of 14kms) but is
the best for game viewing and takes
hikers through rare iLala palm bushveld.
The striking grey-leaved Lala palm
with its large bunches of shiny brown
fruits is very common in this area.
The trail's turning point is a pan
which often provides good game viewing.
The
trails lead through iLala Palm bushveld.
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Open
daily: 06h00-18h00
An entrance fee and community
levy is payable at the entrance
gate. |
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African Crowned Eagle
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Trumpeter
Hornbill |
Malachite
Kingfisher |
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On
the north bank of the Amatikulu
river mouth is one of the most
unusual restaurants in Zululand
- The
Prawn Shack.
Over weekends visitors can spend
a leisurely afternoon on a timber
sundeck overlooking the estuary
and enjoy a seven-course seafood
meal with prawns harvested from
a nearby prawn farm and grilled
on an open fire.
Besides prawns, the menu includes
fresh linefish, Zulu sushi and
a local favourite known as a
Prawn Bunnie Chow - diners are
encouraged to take a stroll
on the beach halfway through
this marathon culinary session.
Contact: 084 737 6493
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Guests
enjoy a leisurely feast on the
deck overlooking the Amatikulu
lagoon.
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